Modular bench system with integrated storage components

ABSTRACT

A bench system incorporating storage components for apparel, footwear, and personal items. The bench system includes an adjustable-height apparel rack, one or more under-seat storage components, which may include a shoe rack, drawer, or mesh shelf, and one or more storage components on the side of the seat, which may include apparel/footwear hooks or a storage compartment. In a preferred embodiment, the bench seat system can comprise different colored components corresponding to amateur, collegiate, or professional sports teams, or another color combination selected by the consumer. The bench system may also optionally include a personalized or customized placard. The placard may include a combination of words, numbers, symbols, graphics, or designs selected by the consumer, including a name, favorite number, an inspirational phrase, the logo of an amateur, collegiate, or professional sports team, or corporate logos or promotional advertising. Each bench system unit can be modularly connected to additional units either in a side-by-side configuration or a back-to-back configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to benches and seats and,more particularly, to bench systems incorporating storage for footwear,apparel, and personal items.

2. Description of the Related Art

Benches have been used by mankind since a log first fell in a forest andsomeone sat upon it. The invention of a bench seat, by itself, is notnew. Additionally, the combination of a bench seat with an apparel rackand storage components is known in the art. U.S. Pat. Nos. D167,460 andD197,100 disclose and depict the combination of storage and an apparelrack, without any bench or seating component. Likewise, U.S. Pat. Nos.D32,043, D159,953, D198,855, and D199,532 disclose and depict homefurnishings constructed of wood that combine apparel storage andseating, but are not modular, adjustable, or personalized. Further, U.S.Pat. Nos. D360,766, D361,437, D362,348, and D436,263 disclose and depictbenches that combine seating with an apparel rack and storage of alimited nature, but again, none are adjustable, modular, or includecomponents that may be personalized.

The prior art does not reveal or disclose the combination of a benchseat, storage components for personal effects, and an apparel rack thatis adjustable to accommodate various types and sizes of apparel and tofacilitate storage when the bench system is not in use. The prior artdoes not reveal modular benches incorporating these features that may beconnected to additional units, or benches that include components thatmay be customized to the consumer's personal preference.

The prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,345 discloses a specific system andmethod relating to the use of interchangeable customizable panels in thedecoration of goods and particular types of furniture. U.S. Pat. No.7,681,345 discloses a system whereby a non-reversible, interchangeablelogo panel may be attached to and incorporated into particular types offurniture and apparel. However, the system and method disclosed isentirely different from the use of a personalized, removable placarddescribed and disclosed in the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bench system withintegrated storage components for footwear, apparel, and personal itemsto meet the various needs and preferences of consumers.

It is an object of the present invention to incorporate an adjustableapparel rack to facilitate its use with a wide range of apparel typesand sizes and to allow for easy storage when not in use.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a bench systemthat is modular in nature and can be easily connected to additionalunits to create a larger sitting platform and greater storage capacity,as the consumer desires.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a bench systemthat may be customized or personalized by the use of different coloredcomponents and the incorporation of a placard that may be customized tothe consumer's preference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, in a preferred embodiment, the bench systemcomprises a bench seat with apparel/footwear hooks or a storagecompartment on its sides, an adjustable-height apparel rack having oneor more cross-members, and one or more types of under-seat storage. Suchunder-seat storage may, in turn, comprise a shoe rack, drawer, meshshelf, or some combination thereof. Further, the bench system canoptionally comprise a custom or personalized placard. The placard caninclude any combination of words, numbers, symbols, graphics, or designsat the direction or preference of the consumer, such as a name, favoritenumber, inspirational saying, the logo of an amateur, collegiate, orprofessional sports team, or corporate logos or promotional advertising.Each bench system unit can be modularly connected to additional unitseither in a side-by-side configuration or a back-to-back configurationfor a greater amount of storage or a larger sitting platform.

In an additional preferred embodiment, the bench system is comprised ofdifferent colored components that can correspond to colors of anamateur, collegiate, or professional sports team, or another colorcombination selected by the consumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention can best be understoodby way of the following detailed description with reference to theaccompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited tothe precise embodiments or the precise placement of the components shownin the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bench system with the apparel rackin an extended position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bench system with the apparel rackin a retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the bench system.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the bench system.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bench system with a storage drawer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bench system with a storagecompartment on the side of the seat.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bench system with apparel/footwearhooks on the side of the seat.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bench system with a mesh shelf.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bench system with a custom orpersonalized placard.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one bench system unit modularlyconnected to an additional unit in a side-by-side configuration,including a detail view of the modular connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is depicted a bench systemcomprised of a bench seat 1, adjustable-height apparel rack, andunder-seat storage. The bench seat system can be constructed from wood,plastics, metals, composites, or other natural or synthetic materials,or a combination thereof. As described, the bench system allows for thestorage of apparel, footwear, and other personal items in addition toproviding a convenient sitting platform.

In a preferred embodiment, the bench seat is approximately 16 incheshigh, 21 inches wide, and 17 inches deep. Apparel/footwear hooks 2 areaffixed to the side of the bench seat to provide storage for apparel orother personal items. In an alternative embodiment, a storagecompartment 9 is affixed to one side of the bench to provide storage forpersonal items.

The adjustable-height apparel rack is comprised of a plurality ofsupport members 3 and one or more cross-members 4. The cross-members, inturn, are comprised of a plurality of apparel hooks 5. The apparel rackcan be adjusted and locked in place at different heights to accommodatedifferent types and sizes of apparel and the preferences of differentusers. In a preferred embodiment, the support members are constructed oftelescoping members joined by “twist-lock” fittings 6 that enable theapparel rack to be fixed at the height preferred by the user and quicklyand easily adjusted to a different height. The support members can beconstructed from a variety of materials, including plastics, metals,composites, or other natural or synthetic materials, including, by wayof example, aluminum tubing or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes.

The under-seat storage component is preferably comprised of acombination of one or more of the following: shoe rack 7, drawer 8, ormesh shelf 10. The mesh shelf can be flexible or rigid in nature. Likethe bench seat, these various under-seat storage components can beconstructed from wood, plastics, metals, composites, or other natural orsynthetic materials, or a combination thereof. In an alternativeembodiment, the drawer is lockable to provide secure storage of personalitems.

The bench system is further optionally comprised of a custom orpersonalized placard 11 mounted between the support members of theapparel rack. In a preferred embodiment, the placard is affixed to thesupport members by way of a “snap-on” PVC fitting 12 that allows forconvenient mounting and removal of the placard. The placard can includeany number or combination of words, numbers, symbols, graphics, ordesigns at the direction or preference of the consumer, such as a name,favorite number, inspirational saying, the logo of an amateur,collegiate, or professional sports team, or corporate logos orpromotional advertising.

Further, in the preferred embodiment, the bench system is comprised ofdifferent colored components. The colors of the components cancorrespond to an amateur, collegiate, or professional sports team, oranother combination of colors selected by the consumer.

In the preferred embodiment, each bench seat unit can be modularlyconnected to additional units by means of through bolts or otherfasteners 13 for greater storage or a larger sitting platform. Thismodular connection between bench seat units can be in a side-by-sideconfiguration, or alternatively, a back-to-back configuration. Foreither configuration, the bench seat units are modularly connected usingthrough bolts to connect the legs of the bench seat units by way ofpre-drilled connecting holes 14.

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

1. A bench system comprising a bench seat, an adjustable-height apparelrack, and under-seat storage.
 2. The bench system as in claim 1, whereinsaid bench seat further comprises a plurality of apparel/footwear hookson the sides of the seat.
 3. The bench system as in claim 1, whereinsaid bench seat further comprises a storage compartment on the side ofthe seat.
 4. The bench system as in claim 1, wherein saidadjustable-height apparel rack comprises a plurality of cross-members.5. The bench system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a customor personalized placard.
 6. The bench system as in claim 1, wherein saidunder-seat storage comprises a shoe rack.
 7. The bench system as inclaim 1, wherein said under-seat storage comprises a drawer.
 8. Thebench system as in claim 1, wherein said under-seat storage comprises amesh shelf.
 9. The bench system as in claim 1, wherein the components ofsaid bench system comprise different colors.
 10. The bench system as inclaim 1, wherein said bench system unit can be modularly connected toadditional bench system units.